“I have so often found that little things that help me can help others too.”

– Amy Carmichael 
Edges of His Ways

HI, THERE! I’M LAURA.

I’m the author of Expect Something Beautiful: Finding God’s Good Gifts in Motherhood and the host of the Expect Something Beautiful Podcast produced by Revive Our Hearts.

I’d love to cheer you on, share practical ideas, and point out the beautiful ways God is working in your life.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A SPEAKER?

I treasure the opportunity to share what I’ve learned with others.

If you would like me to speak at an upcoming event, feel free to contact me: [email protected]. 

POSSIBLE TOPICS:

While I’m happy to consider any topic from a biblical perspective, my current prepared talks are:

  • “Expect Something Beautiful: Finding God’s Good Gifts in Motherhood” (45 min. + discussion questions)
  • “Sisters in Christ: Discovering and Cherishing God’s Gift of Sisterhood” (A 3-session retreat + discussion questions + worship song suggestions)
  • “A Reason to Hope in God: Discovering the Faithfulness of God through the story of Deborah” (A 3-session retreat + discussion questions to follow each session + worship song suggestions)
  • “Marriage…With a Chainsaw: Unity is Your Power Tool” (45-min. + discussion questions)
  • “Refreshed: Enjoying the God Who Restores Your Soul” (45 min.)
  • A variety of homeschooling sessions (each 45 minutes long)

ABOUT ME:

I live with my husband, Ryan, and our six children on a small farm in Pennsylvania. We are members of Oakwood Presbyterian Church.

I received a B.A. in English Literature and a B.S. in Biology from the University of Richmond and an M.A. in English Literature from Penn State University. I received a Certificate in Women’s Counseling from the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation (CCEF) and Westminster Theological Seminary.

DOCTRINAL STATEMENT:

God and Man

I believe in one God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God created man in His own image and for the purpose of glorifying Him. However, instead of glorifying God, man glorifies himself and worships the created things instead of the Creator. Because of his rebellion and sin, man is separated from God and deserving of God’s punishment.

Jesus Christ

For His glory and because of His love for His children, God initiated a plan of redemption, which He fully accomplished on their behalf. God the Father sent Jesus the Son, fully God and fully man, to die on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for the sin of His children. Jesus lived a sinless life on earth, suffered death on the cross, was buried, and then rose again from the dead, demonstrating His victory over sin and death. Jesus fully paid for the redemption of God’s children, and, by God’s grace, we respond with repentance and faith.

The Holy Spirit

God, the Holy Spirit, opens blind eyes and draws God’s children to salvation. He then dwells in the hearts of believers, enabling their sanctification, and sealing them for eternity. The Holy Spirit has also been given to the people of God to empower them for obedience, service, and witness.

The Church

God brings His children together to form a family of believers, called the church, whose joy and duty is to live in unity in the power of the Holy Spirit and under the authority of Scripture.

The Bible

I believe that the Bible is divine revelation, and I submit to its authority, acknowledging it to be inspired by God, without error and carrying the full weight of His authority.

Nicene Creed

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father [and the Son].
With the Father and the Son
he is worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. AMEN.

*adapted from Jen Wilkin’s Doctrinal Statement